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J. MILLER 8v I. SMITH.

Steam Whistle. l

Patented`March 22,.188|.

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J. MILLER e IfsMITH.

Steam Whistle. l

Patented March 22,1881.

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J. MILLER e I. SMITH'.

Steam Whistle. No. 239,264. Patented IVIarch 22,1881.Y

N,FETERS. PHOTO-LATHOGMPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENTN OFFICE.

JOHN MILLER AND ISAAC SMITH, OF HYSON GREEN, COUNTY OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND.

STEAM-WHISTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,264, dated March 22, 1881.

Application filed January 20, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England July 10, 1880.

[o all whom it may concern y Be it known that we, JOHN MILLER and ISAAC SMITH, both ofthe firm of Smith Brothers 15 Oo., of Hyson Green Works, Hyson Green, in the county of Nottingham, England, brass-founders and steam-gage mai'iufacturers, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Whistles, (for which we have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 2,845, bearing date July 1U,1880,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to improvements in steam-whistles to be employed as danger-signals or fog-alarms, or for locomotives and stationary boilers, and also as signals for indieating the course of. ocean or river going vessels. The said invention has more particularly for its object to provide better security against accidents on railways and collisions at sea by producing a variety of distinct signals by the emission of different sounds.

inthe new regulations introduced into the Rule of the Roads at Sea,7 article 19, option is given to Steamers to indicate their course to any vessel which is in sight by whistle-signals. One short blast indicates the course to starboard, two short blasts to port, and three short blasts indicate full speed astern.

Now, the object of' our invention is to deter- `mine this indication by a variety of distinct sounds, which will be at once understood not y only by vessels when in sight, but also during ,aro

the existence of a fog or other cause which prevents the lights of the vessel being seen, say, on a dark or foggy night. Y

ln the accompanying tdrawings we have shown various forms or modih'cations of' our improved whistle, which is so constructed that it will give out from one cylindrical bell three or more distinct sounds.

Figure lis a front view of a whistle constructed according to the irst modification of our improvements and provided with three valvechambers, and Fig. lA a plan ofthe same; Fig. 2, a section al view of the said whistle through the center of the'right and left hand valves. Fig. 3 is a plan ofthe valve-chambers, with the front chamber in section. Fig. 4 is a front view of' a second modificationof whistle having two valves. Figs. 5 and 6 are aside view and 'sectional view of a third modification ot' whistle having one valve. Figs. 7 and are a front view and vertical section of' a fourth moditication. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a fifth modification, and Fig. l() is a horizontal section t ot' a sixth modification with the cap of the cylinder removed. Fig. ll is a vertical sectional view of a seventh modification, comprising' a cylindrical ring-shaped bell or whistle.

The corresponding parts in each figure `are indicated by the same letters where necessary.

A steam-whistle constructed accordingtoour first form or modification consists of the following parts, namely A is a brass or other metal cylindrical bell, divided vertically into two chambers, as shown in Fig. 2. One chamber is provided with a metal stop, B, which is capable of adjustment, and which serves to regulate the toile or pitch of the sound produced in the said chamber. The upper end ofthe cylindrical bell has a cap, (l, screwed upon it, and near the lower end ot' the said cylindrical bell the sides are pierced by two unequal perf'orations,one to each chamber, and the central partition terminates atits lower end in a disk, the circumference of' which, with the interior circumference ot' the cylindrical bell, forms two nearly semicircular slits level with the bottom edges ot' the nnequal perforations. A cylinder so constructed is screwed interiorly at its lower end to connect it to a specially-constructed three-way valve-cock, D, with three screw-threaded valveplugs, D D2 D3. The valve-chamber D is shown in Fig. 2, the plugs D D2 closed, and in Fig. 3, with the part carrying the plug D3 shown in section.

The dotted circular line D3 in Fig. 2 indicates the position ot' the valve-seat for the plug D3 with relation to the plugs D D2. Each ot' the said plugs is provided with a handle at its outer end.

The dotted curved lines in Fig.3 show the ways through which steam is admitted simultaneously to both chambers in the cylinder upon the plug D3 being opened.

This wliistle,when attached to asteani-boiler,

will produce either two separate tones or a IOO manner-thatis to say: Upon theplugD being opened steam will pass through the valve in the direction ot' the arrow shown in Fig. 2 and strike the edge of the chamber to the right, producing the tone peculiar to it, and upon the valve being closed and the valve D2 being opened the chamber to the left will produce its tone; and the valve D2 being closed, upon the valve D3 being opened both tones will he blended together and produce one peculiar harmonious sound. The adjustable metal stopplate B in the chamber enables us to adjust each tone to the greatest nicety, as the lower the stop is adjusted the higlrer the note will be, and the higher the stop is placed the lower the note will be.

[In the second modification, Fig. 4, we have shown a two-cl'iambcred whistle which has only two valves, one to each chamber, so that either note may be sounded alone, or both notes sounded at the same time when the said valves are opened. The adjustable stop-plate B is shown by dotted lilies in a lower position than in Fig. 2, and will cause a shriller note to be produced. A sectional View ot this whistle would be the same as Fig. 2, but without the valve-seat and steamways D3.

lnthe third modification (shown in Figs. 5 and 6) a two-chambered whistle is shown provided with only one valve,which supplies steam to both chambers at the saine time, producing a combination ot' both notes. The valve is kept closed by a coiled spring on the inclosed end ofthe valve-spindle D', and is opened by a lever, E, operated by hand or by a rod attached to the upper end ot' the lever.

The fourth modification (shown in Figs. 7 and 8) consists of a metal cylinder without a vertical division. This cylinder is perforated on one side, the opposite side being ot' a globular form. The bottom ot' the said cylinder is screw-threaded to permit its attachment to a' steam-chamber having one valve, and ot' the same construction as that employed in the third modification. The disk only forms a slit extending' from one side to the other ot` the perforation on the front. Above the slit, and within the globular part, is a case-hardened steel shat'r, F, the ends ot' which are free to revolve in screw-threaded bearings F', carried by the sides of the cylinder. The said shaft is T-shaped, and carries a spherical or semispherical ball, F2, of brass or other metal,

which, upon steam being admitted, will cause the shaft to rotate in its bearings and produce a warbling sound. Any or all of' the chambers of a steam-whistle may be provided with the ball F2 and shaft F.

The tit'th modification (shownin Fig. 9) consists ot' a metal cylinder containing a loose ball, G, kept within the said cylinder by a vertical bar, G', secured to the same by screws. This cylinder is attached by its screw to a valve-chamber, D, similar to that employed in the third modification, and upon steam being admitted and coming in contact with the loose ball it will rise and fall and give out a warbling or throbbing sound.

The sixth modification of steam-whistle is shown in Fig. l0, which represents a threechambered cylinder in section attached to a steam-chamber, D, having three valves. YOne or more of the chambers ofthe cylinder is provided with an adjustable metal stop to regulate the pitch ot' the note required. Each valve is fitted with a screw-threaded valvespindle, as described in the first modification, each being operated by a handle or lever. Upon steam being admitted through the several valves, one, two, or three separate and distinctly' different notes may lbe sounded alone or in combination.

The seventh modification (shown in Fig. 11)' consists of a cylindrical rin @shaped bell, A, screw-threaded interiorly at its lower end to permit its connection to a tap, D, having one valve, and similar to that shown in Fig. 5. A loose ball is placed within the ring-shaped bell, and kept within it by a vertical bar, G', secured to the cylinder by screws. Upon steam being admitted to the ball it will revolve within the bell in the direction ot' the arrows and give out a sound similar to'that described with reference to the tifth moditication.

Upon the whistles shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and l0 we place the words port.7 starboard, and asternf7 or their equivalent, according to the language employed. Such words may be stamped, engraved, or otherwise formed upon the handles or levers, or on the valvechamber or cylinder opposite the handles or levers.

What we claim is- -1. ln a steam-whistle, the combination ot' a stationary bell or sounding-cylinder,l divided into two or more longitndinalchambers by one 'or more fixed partitions, each compartment .-11a\'ii1g a sound-opening with valves arranged to admit steam to said chamber, and a valve to admit steam to two or more ofsaid chambers simultaneously, substantially as described.

2. The cylinder A, provided with two longitudinal chambers arranged to give different tones, in combination with the valves D and D3, arranged to admit steam to said chambers respectively, and the valve D3, arranged to admit steam to both ot' said chambers simultaneously, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a sounding-chamber of a steam-Whistle, ot' a ball, F2, attached to the laterall y-projectin g arm of freely-revolving shaft F,journaled in said chamber, and a valve arranged to admit steam to said chamber and to strike said ball, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN MILLER. ISAAC SMITH.

Witnesses:

H. W. GoUeH, J. H. GoUeH. 

